Tell me More, Good Sister, No Hurry in Life…

Ghana gives new meaning to the concept of bumper stickers. Every taxi, tro-tro, bus, and truck has phrases in big letters painted on the front or taped to a windshield. Many are religous, and most are cryptically philosophical, like the ones in the title. It is like naming a boat, but more poetic. What would you write on the windshield of your tro-tro?

Tamale is filled with Muslims and motorcycles. There is one main road through town and the pace of life is slower than in the South. This is very important because it is extremely hot. I treated myself to a chocolate bar yesterday and it almost melted before I could finish it. (This is miraculous given my chocolate eating speed and capacity.) Tamale is also filled with NGOs. Northern Ghana is the poorest area in Ghana and is “developmentally” behind. The villages in this area are the poorest in the country, largely because Northern Ghana was ravaged during the slave trade and period of forced labor that followed.
The sounds of Tamale, and of all of Ghana, are a mixture of traditional and modern. In Tamale, the call to prayer from nearby mosques woke me at 4 am. Roosters, which hang out with goats everywhere in town, crow often, regardless of the time. Drivers honk their horns constantly to say hello, to see if you need a taxi, to warn people and animals to move out of their way, or to prevent collisions. Everyone responds to car horns instantly, even the goats. Cell phones ring constantly, and people almost always answer them. Mid-lecture, professors will excuse themselvesand take a call. The ring-tone selections are impressive.
We are back in Kumasi now and will be heading out to the villages for the next two weeks. I am apprehensive and very excited, the usual combination. Our group will be split into a few smaller groups and will live with families in the villages while we do a mini Independent Study Project of our choosing.

I leave you for the next two weeks with this, our program’s motto:

Enjoy your life.